Letters Issued Due to Concerns Over Procedure

Medical law specialists would like to alert women to go for smear retesting if recalled, after an investigation has identified concerns in the smear test procedure affecting 1200 patients in East Yorkshire area.

Brough and South Cave Medical Practice issued letters to women this week following a thorough investigation by the NHS which was held after a routine inspection raised concerns about some of the test results from a year ago.

Women from that area will have been sent letters if they are affected by the testing problem and are being urged to be retested within the next six weeks.  A helpline has also been set up to offer advice and appointments to women with concerns.  It is thought that around 200 women have already come forward.

Irwin Mitchell’s specialist medical negligence team has vast experience in acting for women of all ages  who have suffered serious and avoidable health problems following errors made in smear tests all over the UK and the Yorkshire team currently acts for women affected by previous recalls  issued by  Hospital Trusts in both Leeds and York.

Sarah Coles, a solicitor at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office, said: “Sadly we have seen the devastating impact that the condition has on women and their families”.
 
“As women we know the importance of going for smear tests and therefore the news of this recall is a concern.  Obviously it is important that the investigation took place, as without it the recall would not be occurring and we welcome the efforts which are being made to get the women retested; but it is extremely important for these women to call the NHS helpline if they have concerns. 

We cannot stress enough to all those women who have received the letter to go back for retesting. It is not something any of us like doing but it saves lives.   Steps also need to be taken to avoid something like this happening again in the future.”